Reel mechanism for picture-machines.



J. G. LAKE.

REEL MECHANISM FOR PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12,1909.

1,024,790.. Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

il'AlltIIIJS G. LAKE, OF DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

REEL MECHANISM FOR PICTURE-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30', 1912.

Application filed April 12, 1909. Serial No. 489,378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. LAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Montour and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reel Mechanism for Picture-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to reel mechanismfor moving picture machines, the object being to provide a reel which is so constructed that the film can be run through the machine any number of times desired without rewinding the reel as is the case with machines of this character now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reel mechanism which is so constructed that the coil or film may be unwound from its inner end instead of from-its outer end so as. to cause the film to travel through the machine in the correct position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reel which is composed of a base and a top portion, the top portion carrying a spring member for engaging the bottom portion and for securing the end of the film thereto whereby when the film has been wound upon the same by removing the top portion the inner end of the film will be drawn outwardly so that it can be passed through the machine and by placing the top on the bottom of the lower reel the film will be wound upon the same so that the lower reel can be placed on the upper support in the magazine and the operation repeated.

With these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings,,in which, V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a moving picture machine showing the application of improved reel mechanism the magazine being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a' vertical section through the reel and support. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the magazine. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the top member of the reel and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base member of the reel.

Referring to the drawing A indicates an later on.

ordinary moving picture. machine which is provided with a bracket A having a bearing A in which is mounted thev vertical shaft portion A of a supporting arm A which is locked therein in its adjusted position by a set screw A and is provided with a bearing A at its outer end adapted to receive the depending portion B of a spindle B upon which the reel is placed as will be hereinafter fully described.

The spindle B is provided with oppositely disposed arms B having vertical end portions for holdingthe film on the reel in proper position when placed thereon and the spindle is formed with a key portion B adapted to fit in a slot of the reel when placed thereon which will be fully described For inclosing the reel I employ amagazine F which is arranged on the arm A and is provided with an opening in its bottom through which the bearing A projects so that the reel supporting arms B will be held above the bottom of the magazine'so as to allow the arms and reel to rotate freely therein. The magazine is provided with a spout F extending outwardly over the machine having spaced rollers F mounted therein between which the film is adapted to pass on its way-through the machine, said magazine being inclosed by a hinged cover F which allows the film to be readily placed therein or removed therefrom.

My improved reel is composed of a base member C and a top member D. The base member C comprising a fiat disk C having a'central upwardly projecting tube portion C which is provided with a conical portion" C for the purpose hereinafter fully de-.

scribed. The disk C is provided with an opening having a slot communicating therewith through which the reel supporting spindle of the machine is adapted to pass which is provided with the key portion B which extends into the slot sovthat the reel will be locked thereon. The top member D comprises a disk D having a central tube portion -D adapted to fit over'the tube portion C of the base andarranged on the bottom 'of' the disk is a circular spring E the ends of which overlap as. clearly shown at therefrom. The circular spring member eX- pands as it is forced over the conical portion of the base so as to bring the overlapping ends which are normally held spaced apart into engagement, so that the end of the film, which is inserted between the ends of. the spring, will, be securely locked between the same as the same is forced over the conical portion whereby-the film will be held in its proper position.

In use I employ two bottoms and one top to make a complete set and after the film has been wound upon the lower reel the reel is removed from the lower spindle and placed upon the upper spindle and by removing the top member the inner end of the film is drawn outwardly so that it can be readily passed through the machine and the top is then inserted upon the base of the bottom. spindle so that the film will be wound upon the same and it will be seen by this construction it is not necessary to wind the film back upon the reel in order that the film may be in correct position to be passed through the machine whereby a great deal of time and trouble is saved and at the same time the life of the film is increased.

It will be seen that in Fig. 1 I have shown a film being taken off the inner portion of the coil so that as the same passes through the machines it is wound upon the circular spring top member of the lower reel, it of course being understood that the end of the same has been secured between the ends of the overlapping spring member before the same has been placed upon the base member. Whenthe film has already been taken of of the base of the upper spindle the base is removed therefrom and placed upon the lower spindle and the complete reel is then removed off the lower spindle and placed upon the upper spindle and by pulling the top member off the bottom member, the

inner end of the coil is drawn upwardly and outwardly so that it can be readily passed through the machine and placed between the top which has been removed from the base and by placing the top upon the base of the bottom spindle it will be securely locked in position to receive the film when the machine is operated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a reel which is formed of a bottom and a top member adapted to be placed one upon the other in such a manner that they Will be securely locked together and at the same time the end of the film will be secured to the top in order that it can be readily drawn outwardly when it has been wound upon the same in order to enable the same to be passed through the machine in the correct position.

By this construction of reel the same can be used in connection with any of the well known makes of moving picture machines now in use which enables the operator to work the machine continuously thereby overcoming the diliiculties now existing of having to delay the exhibition by rewinding the film.

What I claim is 1. A reel for moving picture machines,

comprising a base and a top having a circu- 1 lar spring for securing it upon the base.

2. A reel for moving picture machines, comprising a base, a top arranged over the base and a circular spring carried by the top for engaging the base and for locking the end of the film.

3. A reel for moving picture machines comprising a bottom member and a top member, said'top member having a circular spring secured thereto, adapted to engage the bottom member and formingmeans for securing the end of the film thereto.

4. A reel for moving picture machines comprising a top member and a bottom member, said bottom member having a central tube portion adapted to receive the tube portion of the top member and a circular spring carried by the top member for V engaging said tubular portion, said circular spring having overlapping ends forming means for securing the ends of the film thereto.

5. A reel for moving picture machines comprising a bottom formed of a disk having a central tubular portion and a top' member formed of a disk having a central tubular portion adapted to fit over the tubular portionof the bottom member said bottom member being provided with a conical portion and a circular spring having overlapping ends carried by the top member adapted to fit over the conical portion of the bottom member, said circular spring forming means for securing the end of the film thereto 6. A reel for moving picture machines formed of two sections, one arranged upon the other, means for securing said sections together, said means forming means for securing the inner end of a film to one of said sections.

7 A sectional reel for moving picture machines formed of two sections, one arranged within the other, means for holding said sections together, said means forming means for securing the end of a. film thereto.

8. A reel for maving picture machines drawn outwardly when said sections are comprising two sections detachably conseparated. nected together, means carried by one of said sections for fastening the sections to- JAMES LAKE 5 gether, said means also ,fprming means for Witnesses:

securing the inner end of a film thereto CHARLES LAKE,

whereby the inner end cat the film can be GEORGE B. JACOBS. 

